STACK February 2016 Issue 136

58 / 89

The series is over but the storm rages on, writes Mark Ankucic.
visit GAMES FEATURE
58 FEBRUARY 2016
GAMES
S cale isn’t generally a boasting point in a
fighting game. Titles like Smash Bros.
and Tekken hint at it in their own
respective ways; the former, with changes to
fighter sizes and the chaotic warping of stages,
and the latter with a storyline that spans almost
two decades. But neither of them can lay a
finger on the enormity that Naruto can bring to
the table.
Even at its most basic level, every fight
feels like a boss fight – Rock Lee opening the
Eight Gates is just as intimidating as Naruto
unleashing the Nine-Tails that resides deep
within his soul. At its most epic levels, you’ll
feel like the boss in the fight, attempting to
crush some puny ninja in one demonic form
or another. Other times, you’ll feel like a boss
having a boss fight with yet another boss.
Although the feeling of scale is never lost.
Taking control of the giant toad Gamakichi
against an even larger, deadlier foe feels like a
clash of titans, rather than a simple upscaling of
regular mechanics.
Similarly, the enormity of the Naruto
universe and narrative is perfectly captured.
Travelling between villages in Adventure Mode
is a bittersweet experience for fans that will
instantly recognise the environment and the
locals. To say it looks like the anime is an
understatement – it allows you to live the
anime. Trips to see familiar faces will lead to
reminiscing about accomplishments passed,
and this, combined with the story mode, will
bring newcomers to the series up to speed and
provide an action-packed rehash for veterans.
It’s one of the very few fighting games that’s
able to mix gameplay with a transformative
story. Prepare for heartbreak. Trials. Triumph.
Loss. And safety in the knowledge that you
didn’t have to watch hundreds of episodes of
the anime to get to the same point. It could
be argued that the game is actually a better
experience. It’s one thing watching Naruto’s
parents fight to the death to save his life, but
it’s another thing entirely to be in the position
where you’re actively fighting as Naruto’s
parents to keep him alive. There’s also a
nostalgic thrill to revisiting battles that took
place so early in the anime, and the joy of
recreating those moments that made you fall in
love with the series.
None of this compromises the complexity
or solid fighting mechanics, however. With
the overwhelming amount of character
choices (each with their own specials, fighting
techniques and ranged attacks), the ability to
pick and choose items to augment your play-
style, and the constant back and forth of chakra
management, Naruto can be exhausting to play.
Anyone can play Ultimate Ninja Storm, but there
will only be a few truly able to master it.
This exceptionalism is almost expected
from the Ultimate Ninja Storm Series. But
now that Naruto is bursting onto current gen
systems, the best in the fighting/brawler genre
just got better. Combat feels like it has more
impact; the animation is so silky smooth,
Hugh Hefner could wear it as a bathrobe; and
now that the Naruto series has wrapped up,
they’ve compacted so much of the narrative it’s
threating to collapse in on itself.
Without a doubt, Naruto Ultimate Ninja
Storm 4 is the best the series has to offer. It’s
enormous. It’s brimming with nostalgia and
challenges to conquer. And thanks to the
seemingly endless amount of side-
missions, quests and chances to
improve and take on ever more
difficult battles, you’ll be able to sink
hour after hour into it.
Three facts about
Naruto
Naruto’s favorite
ramen shop
“Ichiraku” exists in real life.
Shikamaru’s IQ is above 200.
In the anime, Naruto himself is voiced by
a woman.